If you’re in the market for a dehumidifier, you should know, in-depth, what a dehumidifier is. Today, we’ll discuss these amazing inventions in detail and let you know all of their secrets and what you can expect of them in terms of performance. At the end of the day, a dehumidifier will work relentlessly on reducing the levels of humidity issues, mold issues, and asthma symptoms.
What Does a Dehumidifier Do?
In a nutshell, the job of a dehumidifier is to bring humidity levels down to their natural state; anywhere between 30% and 50%, according to the climate of your residence. As the moisture levels go down, the air becomes lighter; hence it’s easier to breathe.
Moreover, humidity creates the perfect environment for the accumulation of dust, dust mites, plus mold formation, and mildew. All of this leads to respiratory problems such as allergies, flare-ups, and asthma, especially in younger children.
So, how does a dehumidifier bring the level of humidity down? In essence, it absorbs the air by the action of a fan, and as the air goes inside, the moisture is sucked out of it. That can happen using more than one mechanism, based on the type of dehumidifier you have, which we’ll discuss later on.
Then, the low-humidity air comes out of the dehumidifier and rises into the atmosphere, and the cycle continues.
Types of Dehumidifiers
The market for dehumidifiers is incredibly vast and varied. Nonetheless, dehumidifiers are divided into two main categories: refrigerant and desiccant. The two types vary in terms of the mechanism through which they extract excess moisture from the atmosphere, and they both have their own set of benefits and setbacks.
Refrigerant
Refrigerant dehumidifiers, as suggested by the name, work more or less like a refrigerator. They require a refrigerant solution that goes through the condenser coil and inside of the dehumidifier.
The air, with all of its moisture, is then sucked into the dehumidifier by the action of the fan and is ran along the icy coils inside the unit.
This causes the excess moisture to condense, and the condensed water from air falls down into the water tank. Thereafter, the air leaves the dehumidifier, and the cycle continues.
The thing is, although these dehumidifiers generally need very little maintenance over time, they are, in a way or another, a bit complicated. Hence, they have a shorter lifespan due to the complex workings of their mechanism.
Desiccant
On the other side of the spectrum, we have desiccant dehumidifiers, which are way simpler in their operation. You see, these dehumidifiers act like those silica gel packs that you get in different products.
They’re fitted with a type of desiccant material that, as the air goes through the dehumidifier, absorbs excess moisture from the air. It’s pretty simple and straightforward. There aren’t many parts to worry about with desiccant dehumidifiers.
Yet, you’ll have to be replacing the desiccant material quite frequently, which can be bothersome to some people. On the other hand, desiccant dehumidifiers tend to significantly outlive refrigerant dehumidifiers.
Sizes of Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are found in many shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, you have to be thinking about your own space to decide what you actually need. In general, we have three main sizes of dehumidifiers. We discuss each one below.
Portable
Portable dehumidifiers aren’t tiny. Mostly, portable dehumidifiers stay where they are. They’re the standard dehumidifiers that you buy for a room, decide on a spot, and keep them there.
The word portable here portrays their ease of transportation. So, although they will most likely not be moved, if need be, they can be moved with relative ease. They might even have wheels on them. Nonetheless, they’re not small in size.
Mini
Mini dehumidifiers, as the name suggests, are pretty small in size. They’re designed so that you can take them from one room to another as you move around your house doing different chores. They might even come with a handle so that you can grab the device as you go without any trouble.
Central
Central dehumidifiers are primarily parts of air conditioning systems. They're designed for places that have a serious need for dehumidifiers; meaning they’re having trouble with dust mites, mold, and mildew.
Instead of investing in a humidifier for every single room, which can cost you a lot of money, opting for a central dehumidifier is a wiser investment.
Dehumidifier Capacity
Dehumidifier capacity is measured in pints of water, and every number of pints is complementary to a certain number of square feet.
That said, for you to find a dehumidifier that fits the space that you intend the unit for, you must have perfectly accurate measurements of the room so that you know what you’re looking for and you're not lost in the sea of capacities. For instance, a 10-pint dehumidifier can deal with 500 sq ft.
When Do You Need a Dehumidifier?
So, what are the indications that can lead you to make the decision of investing in a dehumidifier for your indoor environment? Let’s discuss some of them.
The first indication is if you or anyone in your family is suffering from severe allergies or mold allergies. You see, every allergy has an allergen that triggers it, and dehumidifiers help exterminate these allergens as they purify the air.
They remove dust and all other allergens that can be stuck in the atmosphere around us; hence, they are great for allergic individuals. Also, they help cut down on respiratory infections.
Moreover, dehumidifiers help stunt mold growth and mildew. So, if you start to see dark spots in some places in your walls, or you just can’t get rid of the musty smell, a dehumidifier will do you good.
It’ll stop the growth of mold as it removes the humidity; thus, it won’t be able to propagate any longer. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you still have to seek professional help as dehumidifiers don’t kill the mold; they just stop it from growing.
Furthermore, if you feel that there is dampness in your house; be it water stains on your wall or furniture, or if there are some beads of condensation and water droplets in some areas, or if your home doesn’t get enough ventilation, especially in attics, basements, and bathrooms, then a dehumidifier would help a lot with airflow and making things dryer in general.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, as long as you do your research, take your measurements, and know for sure what you want out of a dehumidifier, purchasing one will almost always be a sound investment. They make the air around us easier to breathe and help improve its overall quality.
All you have to do is maintain proper repairs and maintenance whenever needed as well as clean the dehumidifier and the filters to ensure your dehumidifier's longevity.
